A message from Julie Main, Safeguarding Service Manager

Hello there,

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and say hello to you all. My name is Julie Main. I am very pleased to have been appointed to the post of safeguarding service manager with the Church of Scotland and have been in post now for around 4 weeks. I look forward to working with you all and indeed may have already had the opportunity to speak to some of you.

My background is in local authority social work services. For around twenty years I have worked mostly in the field of child protection work but have also had a stint in criminal justice social work, both prison and community. Public Protection and Safeguarding can be a complex and challenging area of work but can also be very rewarding and interesting. No two days are ever the same!

The safeguarding service already has a well-established team of experienced workers to support you in your role and I hope that I can also make a positive contribution going forward. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I possibly can.

In the last trainers e-bulletin, I asked you to fill in a brief survey...I had 12 responses in total which is not huge but enough to get an idea of thoughts...

Some of the responses are pictured below.

Key pieces of work for me to take forward are:

- Design refresher training for volunteers and coordinators for use if trainers wish - my aim is to complete these and have them signed off by end of September for sharing in the next e-bulletin

- Design a short specific course for use with Safeguarding Panel Members if trainers wish to do so. This would be ready in time for the Trainers Conference in November.

- Continue to monitor and updated core training packages where trainers and the Safeguarding Service feel there is a need - to be discussed at this years Trainers Conference.

The survey is still available to fill in here.

Let's make sure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet....

From what age does the Church of Scotland formally recruit workers?

We formally recruit and PVG check volunteers and paid staff to do regulated work from age 16.

My story: Being a Safeguarding Coordinator and Safeguarding Trainer

Caroline Norwood, Glasgow Presbytery

My journey into Safeguarding started on a course for Safeguarding Coordinators back in 1998 when a few members from our Church thought it would be good to see what all the ‘media talk’ was about. I didn’t take up the position of Safeguarding Coordinator at that time, but instead took the route of becoming a Safeguarding Trainer, a role I still thoroughly enjoy.

Having a background knowledge as to the work of the Safeguarding Coordinator helped when delivering training, and that helped our Church Safeguarding Coordinator, who like most folks in 1998, was very new to the role. The Safeguarding Coordinator is a position of trust and one which should be supported by the Kirk Session. Regularly speaking with leaders of organisations regarding recruitment, training, where to find answers, all form part of the Safeguarding Coordinator’s role and guiding them to the Church of Scotland website as an invaluable tool. Likewise, regularly speaking with Kirk Session means that members are aware of the ever-changing role and how Safeguarding fits with the wider Church.

It’s such a privilege to deliver the training and work behind the scenes in my Church. I’ve made so many good friends over many years. I hope that I will be part of it for many years to come. I became a Safeguarding Coordinator a number of years ago and use this role together with being a Trainer, to remind folks that God cares passionately about the welfare and well-being of all people.

We feel priviledged to announce our first keynote speaker at this years conference on Saturday the 18th November, Lorin LaFave:

Lorin's son Breck Bednar, was groomed and murdered by an online predator. Lorin speaks out about Breck's tragedy to increase awareness of the dangers online.

Follow this link to book - Safeguarding Trainers Conference 2017